BATTLING Nuns held off a late challenge from their high-flying visitors to secure a vital victory at Liberty Way.

Back-to-back penalties from Lee Chapman inside the opening 20 minutes handed the home side a six-point lead but this was blown away on the half-hour when experienced Westoe centre Mark Bedworth powered through before slotting over the conversion.

The visitors took their narrow one-point lead into the break only for Nuneaton to regain the upper hand within two minutes of the restart. It was winger Tim Smithsan who went over beneath the posts following a powerful run, Chapman kicking the extras.

The Nuns extended their lead ten minutes later when, from a driving maul, second row Will Ward crashed over to hand his side an 18-7 advantage.

That was to prove too great a margin for Westoe. Former Wharfedale star Bedworth bagged a second try, and conversion, on 67 minutes but the Nuns held on for a deserved win.